Overview:
Vision & Associates is one of the largest local law firms. It has 13 partners and 78 fee earners, with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It specializes in IP and general legal work, and also provides investment and management consulting services. In the last year, the firm has become a lot more active in the fields of banking and finance, IT and M&A. Banking:
V&A has acquired some high-profile clients including Vietcombank, which it assisted during equitization and IPO planning for its IPO, and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, which it helped in connection with fund arrangements with a group of foreign banks. The firm was also involved in a major World Bank funded project to make recommendations on facilitating financing for the development of domestic infrastructure. Capital Markets & Corporate Finance:
The firm was engaged by the State Securities Commission system in the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. It was also involved in the preparation of the share acquisition agreements by DeAM in Vietnamese and foreign invested enterprises. The firm works for Hanoi Fund on a retained basis. Construction & Real Estate:
Vision & Associates advised Binh Minh Import-Export Production and Trade (Bitexco), a local real estate developer on matters regarding sale and purchase transactions, contract reviews and disputes. It is also retained by An Vien JSC, and assisted Sudico in negotiating with Accord on a hotel management agreement. Dispute Resolution:
Vision & Associates was engaged by Hanoi Vietnamese-French Hospital (HVF) in a number of litigation cases with patients. The firm was retained by joint-venture mining company Vietmindo Energitama in a series of contract disputes, and was engaged by Empress Trade in litigation with a Vietnamese company relating to a goods purchase contract. Intellectual Property:
This firm acted for LG Household & Health, part of the Korean LG Group, to investigate and raids cosmetic shops selling hair mousse and hair treatments bearing a fake LG trademark. The shop owners were fined more than D13 million. The firm also worked for SPI Group, owners of the Stolichnaya vodka trademark, to stop the import and sale of fake vodka, and acted for Viacom International to take action against the unauthorized online use of the MTV trademark and logo. IT, Telecommunication & Media:
Vision & Associates advised Yahoo! Southeast Asia on local regulatory, compliance and copyright issues. It was engaged by Canadian telecoms firm Nortel to help with the establishment of a representative office in Vietnam, and has worked closely with Rajah & Tann to provide local legal advice and opinion to the Singapore firm's client. Labour & Employment:
Vision & Associates is legal counsel to Youngone Nam Dinh and provides advice on labour matters. It has also reviewed working rules and regulations for Honda Vietnam and has helped the company with litigation settlements. Mergers & Acquisitions:
This firm assisted a Swiss company in the acquisition of a major shareholding in Vietnam National Reinsurance. It advised Dong A Steel on a merger of its member companies, and helped Hoang Thanh, owner of a chain of restaurants, to establish a new operating company and transfer a part of the shareholding to Mekong Capital. Private Equity & Venture Capital:
Vision & Associates advised Royal International on a public offering to increase its share capital for business expansion in the hotel, casino and entertainment, and park business, and helped DeAM in its search for equity and debt investment in a number of local public companies. The firm was also engaged by Aureous Advisors on a private placement in Hiep Hoa. Project Finance, Infrastructure & Energy:
Intra Corporation (Japan) engaged Vision & Associates to provide legal advice on local investment law and help with negotiations and documentation. It helped SP Chemicals on a large project involving the construction of a petrochemical complex valued at US$11 billion in Phu Yen province. Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy:
Vision & Associates advised Sowatco, a state-owned enterprise, on a project involving its restructuring, conversion into a holding company and subsidiaries, and eventual equitization. Securitization & Structured Finance:
Deutsche Asset invested in a public company by accepting its convertible bonds with option for conversion by the end of their tenor. Vision & Associates provided all the related legal advice including due diligence. The firm also advises Church Commissioners for England, a private equity investment fund managed by Pruprim (part of Prudential Singapore) and Hanoi Fund Management. Shipping, Maritime & Aviation:
Vision & Associates advised Sowatco on fluvial transport and coastal line activities, and was engaged by Wartsilla to advise on the warranty and maintenance of waterway transport facilities. The firm also advises Hyundai Vinashin Shipyard on a retained basis. Taxation:
Vision & Associates advised Keppel Land to provide legal advice on tax imposed on capital contribution and share assignments and to draft its dispatch to the tax authorities. It was retained by Japanese constructor Obayashi Vietnam Corporation to advise on its tax return, and helped Readymix Concrete with matters related to the exemption of import tax in its favour. | 
